How can we support healthy inflammation and get rid of unnecessary inflammation in the body? The inflammatory process is highly complex. There are 3 main phases in the process that are helpful for horse owners to know to manage it properly.
Acute: Swelling, redness, heat, loss of function
Sub-Acute: Regenerative processes
Chronic: consistent low-grade inflammation can cause musculoskeletal injuries, lameness, metabolic & immune issues
Are there sneaky ingredients in your horse's feed that could be contributing to their inflammation?
Knowing what is in our horse's feed can help us understand where low-grade chronic inflammation is coming from. Does your horse take longer to heal soft tissue injuries than others? Does your horse seem to have a weakened immune system? Does our horse have metabolic syndrome? In this 3-minute video, Erik Jackson talks about unnatural feed additives and the effects they play on the body.
Inflammatory Feed Additives
Artificial Flavors - By products of petroleum waste
Magnesium Stearate - Breaks down into stearic acid - loss in T-cell function (weakened immune system)
Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) - Cancer and tumor growth in lab rats - The body can't naturally excrete it.
Sodium Benzoate - Mold inhibitor but converts to benzene in the body, a known carcinogen. Linked to chronic inflammation in animal studies.
Artificial Colors - Man-made chemical compounds, often by-products of petroleum waste and crude oil production.
Per Erik Jackson: Acute (swelling, redness, heat, loss of function—the body's immediate response), Sub-Acute (regenerative processes during healing), and Chronic (ongoing low-grade inflammation that drives musculoskeletal injuries, lameness, metabolic syndrome, and immune dysfunction).
Which feed additives can drive inflammation?
Per Erik Jackson: artificial flavors (petroleum byproducts), Magnesium Stearate (T-cell loss / weakened immunity), BHT (cancer/tumor risk in lab studies), Sodium Benzoate (converts to benzene, a carcinogen), and artificial colors (petroleum and crude oil byproducts). Any of these read on a feed label warrants a closer look.
How do I tell if my horse has chronic inflammation?
Per Erik Jackson: slow soft-tissue recovery, recurring lameness without obvious cause, weakened immune response, metabolic syndrome, and persistent low-grade swelling. Symptoms can be subtle but compound over time into major problems.
Can I reduce inflammation by changing feed?
Per Erik Jackson: yes. Switching to feeds without inflammatory additives, adding omega-3 fatty acids, and ensuring complete trace mineral profile all reduce the chronic-inflammation load. Many owners report visible improvement within months of cleaning up feed sources.
Should every horse owner read feed ingredient lists?
Per Erik Jackson: yes. "Premium" feed brand alone isn't enough—the actual ingredient panel reveals what's in the bag. Compare brands, ask manufacturers about questionable ingredients, and don't hesitate to switch to cleaner options.
